A woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy also deserves to

Opening Scene – Narrated by Host

The sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting a golden glow across the small, cozy café they sat in. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, mixing with the soft rustling of the newspapers being flipped through by a few patrons scattered around. Outside, the world seemed to move faster than the slow rhythm of the café. The soft hum of conversations blended with the clink of cups, creating an atmosphere of quiet comfort.

Jack sat at the corner table, his fingers wrapped around a warm mug, his gaze far off, lost in thought. Jeeny sat across from him, her own mug in hand, watching the way his mind seemed to wander. It wasn’t like him to sit so quietly for so long, and she could tell there was something weighing on him.

Jeeny: “What’s on your mind, Jack? You’ve been quiet.”

Jack’s eyes shifted to meet hers, a moment of hesitation before he spoke.

Jack: “I was just thinking about… about something I read the other day. A quote from Patricia Heaton. She said, ‘A woman experiencing an unplanned pregnancy also deserves to experience unplanned joy.’ And it really stuck with me. I mean… it seems like we often focus on the challenges, the fear, the uncertainty that comes with something unplanned. But what about the possibility of joy in those moments? The kind of joy that surprises you, the kind that shifts everything for you in an unexpected way.”

Jeeny paused, her gaze softening, and she set her cup down slowly before leaning forward. Her voice was calm but laced with curiosity.

Jeeny: “You’re thinking about how we sometimes see the unexpected as a burden, rather than something that can also bring happiness? Is that what you mean?”

Jack: “Yeah. I guess I’ve always thought of ‘unplanned’ as a negative thing. Like when things happen that we didn’t expect, they’re usually problems to be fixed or struggles to be dealt with. But what if they don’t have to be? What if there’s joy in the surprise? What if it’s just as possible to find unexpected happiness as it is to find the difficulties?”

Host: The soft murmur of the café continued around them, but their corner felt charged, like the quiet space between them was becoming something more. The evening light cast long shadows across the table, illuminating their faces with a warm, golden glow, as if nature itself was aligning with their thoughts.

Jeeny: “You’re talking about seeing life from a different angle, right? It’s easy to get stuck in the idea that the unexpected is something to be feared, something to avoid. But maybe, sometimes, the most beautiful things in life come from what we don’t plan for. Like joy, like growth—like the beauty of something new unfolding.”

Jack: “But it’s not always easy to see that, is it? When life throws you something you weren’t ready for, when everything feels uncertain or even overwhelming, it can be hard to imagine that joy is even possible. It takes a different kind of perspective to realize that the unexpected can also bring something beautiful. And maybe that’s what Patricia Heaton was trying to say: that even in the hardest, most unplanned moments, there’s room for joy, too.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s not about ignoring the reality of what’s happening. It’s not about pretending everything is perfect. It’s about making space for joy, even when the circumstances aren’t ideal. A woman facing an unplanned pregnancy—that’s not a simple situation. But Patricia Heaton is right in saying she deserves to experience the joy that can come from it, despite the challenges. We all deserve to experience joy, even when life doesn’t go the way we thought it would.”

Host: The soft clink of spoons against cups punctuated their conversation as their words settled into the air between them. Jack leaned back slightly, his eyes searching, as if trying to absorb what she had said, to let it sink in.

Jack: “So, you think that joy isn’t just something that happens when everything’s perfect, when things are planned? It’s not just reserved for the happy, comfortable moments?”

Jeeny: “No. I think joy is found in those messy, unplanned moments too. It’s not about things going according to plan. It’s about how you respond to those moments. It’s about the openness to receive the joy that’s there, even when it’s unexpected. And sometimes, it’s in the middle of life’s messiest moments that we find the most beautiful surprises.”

Jack: “It’s funny, isn’t it? How easy it is to think that joy is something we have to chase, something we only get when we’ve done everything right. But maybe joy is just there, waiting for us, no matter what the plan is.”

Jeeny: “Maybe it’s the surprises, the moments that come from nowhere, that make life feel real, you know? Because in those moments, we don’t have control, but we still have the choice to find joy. It’s not about perfection—it’s about embracing the life we’ve been given, all of it, the good and the messy, and making space for happiness even when it’s unexpected.”

Host: The room seemed quieter now, the soft conversation around them fading into the background. The idea that had been lingering in the air began to take root, and for the first time, Jack felt the weight of his thoughts lighten. The complexity of life, of unplanned events, suddenly seemed less like a burden and more like an opportunity—an opportunity to find joy, even when it wasn’t expected.

Jack: “So, you’re saying that even in the hard, unplanned moments, there’s always the possibility of joy? That the surprise is part of what makes it meaningful?”

Jeeny: “Yes. The surprise is what makes it real. Because life isn’t always perfect, but it’s still beautiful. And joy doesn’t have to be earned or planned for—it can just come, when we’re open to it, even when things don’t go as we thought they would.”

Climax and Reconciliation

The light outside had nearly faded now, leaving behind the soft glow of the café lights that filled the space around them. Jack sat back, his gaze softening, a new understanding forming in his mind. The weight of his earlier thoughts had shifted, replaced with a quiet sense of peace. The world wasn’t perfect, and things didn’t always go as planned—but there was beauty in the unexpected. And joy was a part of that.

Jack: “I think I get it now. Maybe the joy in life doesn’t come from everything being perfect. Maybe it comes from the surprise, from the moments we didn’t see coming. The moments when life surprises us with something beautiful, even when we’re not ready for it.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. And that’s the kind of joy that makes life worth living. Not the perfect moments, but the ones that catch us off guard and remind us that there’s always room for happiness, no matter what.”

Host: The air between them felt lighter now, as if the weight of their conversation had left them with something brighter, something more hopeful. Outside, the world continued to move, but inside the café, everything felt a little more in focus. The joy of the unplanned had settled into their hearts, and they both knew that sometimes, it’s the unexpected moments that bring the greatest joy.